Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities and left knee disability are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 30% prior to June 16, 2014, and 60% thereafter. The right knee chondromalacia patella was rated at 10% prior to March 26, 2012, and 60% thereafter. TDIU was granted for the periods before March 26, 2012, and from May 1, 2013, until June 15, 2014.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease is related to his active military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a bilateral knee injury during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1977, and thus could not establish service connection for a current bilateral knee disorder or degenerative arthritis.

The Board has denied reopening of the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete examination reports and lack of information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran is not shown by the record evidence to have been unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities, including range of motion and functional impairment during flare-ups or periods of repeated use.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and right wrist disability are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's SNPA is not proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU prior to September 14, 2015, were granted. The right knee was rated at 30 percent disabling post-total knee replacement since January 12, 2016. The left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not found to be related to service or his service-connected lower back disability. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 60 percent, but a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not manifest in service, is not attributable to service and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is at least as likely as not related to his current condition. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, back disability, and neck disability are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability rating and eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance benefits was granted. The appeal is denied as there was no valid notice of disagreement filed in connection with the August 2011 rating decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and bilateral knee condition. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the current condition is related to an injury sustained during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and found no evidence of service connection for a right or left knee disability. The issue of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure remains pending.